Suction cup glass feeding mechanism and method



Dec. 10, 1940. v R. w. cANFn-:LD

SUCTION CUP GLASS FEEDING MECHANI-SM AND METHOD Filed sept. 12, 1956 2Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 10, 1940. R. w. CANFIELD SUCTION CUP GLASS FEEDINGMECHANISM AND METHOD 5 2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Sept. 12, 1956 .PatentedDec. 10, 1940 i UNITED STATESA 'SUCTION CUP GLASS FEEDING MECHANISM ANDMETHOD Robert W. Canfield, West Hartford, Conn., assignor toHartford-Empire Company, Hartford, Conn., a corporation of DelawarevApplication September 12, 1936, Serial No. 100,408

12 claims. (ci. 49-5) This invention relates tojmprovements in the artof gathering molten glass charges from the surface of, a supply pool insuction cups or receptacles, and for feeding such charges to molds ofassociate glass forming machines.

A general object of the invention is to provide an eiiicient, reliableand practical suction feeding mechanism ofthe type above referred to.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide a suction cupglass-feeding mechanism Which has improved means for effecting releaseof the gathered separated glass charges from the walls of the` cupcavity, and for effecting downplacement of any portion thereof as itleaves the cavity kof the gathering cup.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved combinationof a cooperative suction gathering cup and associate severing means forgathering and feeding to associate molds a series of charges of thesame, accurately controlled predetermined Weight and shape and forvarying, within limits, the weight of the charges to be fed withoutrequiring any change in the size or operationy of the gathering cup.

A further object of the invention is the -provision of a mechanism ofthe character described which will afford facilities for feeding to themolds of an associate shaping machine mold charges of suitable shape,size and condition to be fabricated in the shaping molds into bottles orsimilar articles of glassware having walls free from so-calledcounterblow or settle blow" waves.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a mechanismof the character described Which embodies as a movable unit a par nharmful heat or high temperature conditions,

and without such severing mechanism interfering withthe movements of thesuction gathering cup to and from a glass gathering`I position or withthe feeding of the gathered, separated charges to associate glassshaping molds. l

l Other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter bepointed out or Will become apparent from the following description of aparticular illustrative embodiment of the invention,

as shown in the accompanying drawings, in

which Figure 1 is a plan view of one form of suction cup glass feedingmechanism of the invention;

Figi 2 is a front view of such mechanism, show- 5 ing in full lines theshear blades of the severing mechanism in raised inactive positionsbefore effecting a glass severing operation, and showing in dotted linessuch shear blades in other inactive positions after they have been moveddown- 10 Wardly to complete a glass severing operation;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the structure shown in the preceding viewswith the shear blades in inactive positions after a severing operation,as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 2; l

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section through vthe partible suctioncup and cooperative suction head, showing the means for'supporting thecup sections for swinging movements t`o and from closed positions; v

Fig. 5 is a view, similar to Fig. 4, but showing Athe cup sections openand illustrating the provisions at the upper end of the cup forsteadying the gathered glass charge, for forming a central cavity in theupper portion of the charge, and 25 for imparting a straight linedownward movement to the charge as the cup sections are opened;

Fig. 6 is a relatively enlarged or detail view of portions of the cupsections and the cooperative suction head, showing vin full lines thecharge after a cavity has been formed in the upper end thereof, andafter it has been given a slight downward impulse by the openingsections of the cup, and showing in dotted lines the position of theupper end of the charge before the sections of the mold cup are opened,and

Fig. 7 is a sectional view, substantially along the line I-l of Fig. 3,showing the suction and cooling passages in the cup sections, and alsoillustrating the spacing of the shear blades after they have completed aglass severing operation,`

The suction cup in the form now preferred by me comprises a pair ofcooperative halves or sections `I0. These sections are formed so that acavity I I, open at its lower end, is defined by them when the sectionsare closed. This. cavity may have a slight downward taper, as shown, butin any case should have a shape conforming to the shape of the majorportion of the charge desired. v

The cup sections I0 are formed to provide a top for the cup cavity.vThis top has `a central opening l2 of less diameter than the adjacentportion of the cup cavity, the annular surface or disposed levers 21.with aligned threaded openings 28 in which are shoulder I3 at the upperend of the cup cavity preferably being curved or rounded to avoid anysharp angle or narrow recess at the juncture of the top and side wallsof the cup cavity.

A suction head I4 cooperates with the sections of the gathering cup andprovides a support from which these sections are pivotally suspended. Asshown, the suction head I4 has a slightly reduced lower end portion I4afitting snugly in and having practically air-tight contact with thebottom of a counterbore` or cavity I5 in the top of the gathering cupwhen the sections of such cup are closed. A suction chamber I6 in thesuction head I4 then is disposed directly above and in axial alignmentwith the central opening I2 in the top of the closed cup. This suctionchamber communicates at its upper part with an inclined suction tube I1.I

The lower portion of the suction chamber may be enlarged somewhat, asshown at I6a, to accommodate the head of a plug I8 in the lower portionof the suction chamber. A pin or projection I9 depends from the head ofthe plug I8 through the central opening I2 in the upper part of theclosed suction cup, and has a tapering tip I9a depending into the upperpart of the cup cavity centrally of the latter. The plug I8 is securedin place by a bolt 20 which extends' through a suitable opening or bore2l in the upper part of the suction head structure and is threaded intoa suitable opening in the upper portion of the plug.

Communication between the suction chamber I6 and the cavity of the cupis established through vertical passages or grooves 22 invthe plug I8,these passages or grooves extending as indicated at 22a along a portionof the head pin I9. The head pin is of sufficiently small diameter to bespaced from the surrounding wall of the opening I2. With thisarrangement, any annular suction space is provided around the lower partof the head pin I9 in open communication with the cavity of the cup andin communication through the passages 22 and 22a with the suctionchamber I6. The suction passages and spaces in open communication withthe cup cavity are too narrow for glass to be drawn thereinto but are ofsuiiclent area to insure quick and effective reduction of pressure orsuction in the cup cavity when suction is on;

The suction tube I1 may extend through an inclined socket or holder 23whichis integrally or rigidly connected with the head I4. This suctiontube may pass through a tubular ram or carrier 24 which has its outerend portion received within the socket or holder 23. For detachablysecuring the ram or carrier 24 to the socket or holder 23 fastening pins25 may be employed or any other suitable fastening means may be used.Only a portion of the ram or carrier is shown,

it being understood that the same may be a part of or connected with anysuitable mechanism for supporting and reciprocating the suction head andthe parts carried thereby as required for glass gathering and chargedelivering operations.

The cup sections Ill Yare carried by holders 26 which may constitute thelower end portions of intermediately pivoted substantially verticallyThe holders 26 are provided disposed adjustable threaded bushings 29.Cap bolts 30 have their shanks extending loosely through the bushings 29and are threaded into suitable openingsrSl in the wall of the cupsecsections of the cup relative to their holders to assure self-adjustedcooperative relationships between the cup sections and with the suctionhead when the cup sections are closed. To maintain the tops of the cupsections level so as to assure l proper t between them and the suctionhead, adjustable devices in the form of cap bolts 33 may be employed.These cap bolts have their Shanks threaded into suitable verticalopenings 34 in outwardly extending flanges 35 on the upper portions ofthe cup sections so that their heads rest 4ends to the suction head I4,as by providing such portionsof the levers with flanges 21a,arranged tostraddle opposite outwardly extending side portions I4b of the suctionhead and being pivoty ally connected thereto by the horizontal pivotpins 31. It will be observed that these horizontal pivot pins 31 arelocated above and laterally of the cavity of the cup when the sectionsof the cup are closed. Thus, as the sections of the cup are swung apartfrom' their closed positions, the portions of such sections at the upperend of the cup cavity move in a path having a downward component, for apurpose to be .hereinafter pointed out.

The upper end portions of the levers 21 are urged outwardly from thesuction head by coil springs 38. Each of these springs has its inner endseated in a pocket 39 in the adjacent portion of the suction headstructure and its outer end received in an opening 40 in the associatelever Threaded plugs 40a close the openings 40 and provide a convenientmeans for permitting installation of and adjusting the pressure thatwill be exerted by each of the springs 38.

.The upper extremities of the levers 21 carry rollers 4I. When the`ranor carrier 24 is operated so as to move the suction head and the partscarried thereby outwardly from a glass gathering position over a supplypool of molten glass (not shown), these rollers engage cam surfaces 42on fixed cam plates 43 which may be carried by stationary frame members44 (Fig. 1). 'I'he action of the cam surfaces of the c am plates 43 onthe rollers 4I causes the upper ends of the levers 21 to be swung inwardor toward each other, thereby opening the sections of the gathering cup.

The sections of the cup may be cooled, as by providing them with coolingfluid passages 10c (Figs. 4 and '1), through which water or othercooling liquid or fluid may be circulated from lnlet pipes 45 to outletpipes 46 (Fig. 1).

The suction within the cavity of the cup may be rendered effectivethroughout practically the entire length of such cavity, Aas byproviding registering. grooves 41 (Figs. 4 and 7) of substantial area incross section in the meeting or contacting surfaces of the moldsections, and in communication at their upper ends with the annularspace around the head pin I9, and then machining the adjacent surfacesof the sections from these grooves to the inner walls of the sections soas to provide narrow suction slits 48 when the Y cup sections areclosed.

Any suitable known severing or glass-cutting mechanism may be employedto advantage with the glass gathering mechanism of this invention. Iprefer, however, to employ a severing mechanism having a pair ofcooperative shear blades mounted for movement with the gatheringmechanism, and adjustable so as to vary the distance from the cup atwhich the gathered glass will be separated from the glass of the supplybody or pool. By such adjustment ofthe severing mechanism, the weight.of the gathered glass charges can be regulably predetermined. Also, bythe use of such an adjustable severing mechanism, the shape of the lowerend portion of the gathered glass can be controlled and varied to someextent.

The severing mechanism may comprise a pair of shear blades, respectivelydesignated 49 and 50, carried by arms and 52 which are supported on ahorizontal pivot pin 53. I'he pivot pin 53 is supported by a. mountingwhich is vertically adjustable on the suction head. vAs shown, the arms5I and4 52 have right-angular douter end portions 5|a and 52u.respectively, to which the blades 49 and 50 are secured, as by thefastening devices 54. The arrangement is such that the blades are kepthorizontal at all times and may be swung from their raised positions, asshown in Fig. 1, and by the full lines` in Fig. 2, downwardly acrosseach other beneath the lower end of the suction cup, and then onward(see Figs. 2 and 7) until such blades are disposed far enough apart topermit a gathered glass charge to drop between them. To permit thisoperation, the armA 5I is longer than the arm 52, the

yblade 49 on the arm 5l being lowermost when the blades pass each otherduring a glass severing operation. These blades may be provided Awith Vnotches in their cooperative edge portions vor may have straight cuttingedges. The lowermost blade may be thicker than the upper blade, thelatter being relativelyk thin, or both blades may have cutting edgeportions made of metal of the same gauge.

'Ihe blades may be curved transversely along arcs of circles having theaxis of the pivot pin 53 as a center so as to assure close shearingcontact of the blades during glass shearing operations.

The horizontal pin or shaft 53 on which the upper end portions or hubsof the shear arms 5I and 52 are pivotally supported is carriedV by fFig.-3, into threaded openings in the block 51,. theheads of these boltsserving, when `the bolts aretightened, to clamp washers 60 against theslide'block and thus to secure the latter against accidental orunintended upwardmovement rela#y I tive to the block 51. The verticallyadjusted position Aof the slide block 55 in the slideway 56 isYdetermined by adjustment of a supporting screw 6| whichlis threadedthrough a horizontal flange '62 at the upper end of the slide block, andbears at its lower end onthe top of the block,51.

. A pneumatic mechanism may be employed forl operating the shear arms.As shown, a cylinder 63 is carried by a bracket which may be integralwith or rigidly connected with the upper portion of the slide block 55.A piston 64 in the cylinder 63 has a stem 65 depending from the cylinderand carrying a head 66. This head 66 carries a pair of depending rackbars 61 and 68 respectively, having teeth which mesh with the teeth ofpinions 69 and 16 respectively. The pinions 69 and 10 are integral withor rigidly connected with the hubs of the shear arms 5I and 52.

With this arrangement, when the piston 64 is moved from the lower end ofthe cylinder 63 to the upper end thereof, the shear arms 5I and 52 willbe swung from their raised positions, as shown in Fig. 1 and by the fulllines in Fig. 2, downwardly to eect a shearing operation, as the blades49 and 50 cross each other beneath and in line with the cavity of thesuction cup and thence past each other to the dotted line positionsshownin Fig. 2. The portions of the blades beneath the lower end of thecup are then spaced .suiiiciently far apart to permit the charge ofglass to drop therebetween. On a return movement of the piston in thecylinder 63,'the shear arms will be swung from the dotted line positionsof Fig. 2 to the positions shown in Fig. 1 and by the full lines in Fig.2. For operating the piston in the cylinder 63, pneumatic connectionsindicated at 1I and 12 may be provided for the upper and lower ends,respectively of the cylinder 63. TheV introduction and exhaust ofpressure uid to and from the opposite ends of the cylinder through suchconnections may beI timed and controlled by any suitable knownmechanism, many examples of which are available to those skilled in theart.

It will benoted that the arrangement above described for supporting theshearing mechanism for movement with the gathering mechanism 1ocatesAthe mechanism for operating the shear blades sulciently' far above theglass contacting portion of the gathering mechanism to be out of thezone of greatest heat. Also, such arrange-v ment locates the mechanismfor operating the shear blades out of the path of movement of thesuction cup to and from the surface of a glass supply pool, and thusavoids any possibility of contact bf the shearing mechanism with x'edwalls or structure adjacent to the glass gathering position lof the cupas the latter ismoved to and from s uch position. f

From the foregoing description of a particular embodiment of theinvention, the operation thereof will be readily understood. uWhen theglass gathering cup is moved to a glass gathering position, the sectionsthereof will be kept closed by the springs 38, the'rollers on the levers21 then being out of contact with the cam plates 43. Suction will be'applied through the passages hereinbefore described at the. proper timeto cause glass from the supply pool to fill the cav-vr ity of the cup.

The shears are operated tol sever the connecting glass at apredetermined distance below the i lower en'dof the cup cavity, and the:cup `willbev movedrbythe operating movement'of `its vsupportingstructure youtward toward a' station jat; v`

which the gathered?" glass*` i s, to rbe discharged from the cuptoffallas acharge fordeliveryto4 a waiting mold. f

The rollers 4 ,lv` willv engage u the cam plates` -`43 to open the cupsections asj'the cup reaches the l charge delivering 'station. It willbe observed" that the depending head `pinl I9` has formed a centralcavity in the top of the gathered charge of glass, as indicated at 13 inFigs. 5 and 6. This head pin also serves to steady and keep in a.,vertical position the charge 13 as the cup sections start to open andsimultaneously to im- 5 part to the charge an vaxial downward movement.The operation is shown to advantage in Fig. 6 in which the position ofthe upper end of the charge before the cup sections start to open isindicated by dotted lines while the position of 10 the dropping charge,as the cup sections open, is

indicated by full lines. The ends of the semicircular upper portions ofthe cup sections will -tend to follow .the upper end of the charge andto impart a. downward movement thereto as the l5 sections I0 are swungapart and move the inner surfaces of the cup sections out of contactwith the charge. 'The charge thus is positively detached from the innerwalls of the cup cavity while it is being steadied at its upper end, andis given an axial downward movement so that it will drop venticallydownward without tiltingr from the vertical. 'Ihis is a decidedadvantage over the operations of prior partible or sectional cupmechanisms which have been unsuccessful because of inability to deliverthe gathered charges axially downward or without being tilted or fallingon their sides. f'

Also, in view of the improved means that the invention provides fordisengaging the glass charge from the inner walls of the cup cavity andfor causing the detached charge to remain vertical as it is impelleddownward, lthe opening movement of the cup sections Amay be of butrelatively slight extent. Consequently, a further check against harmfullateral tilting or deflecting of the charge is provided in that theinner walls of the cup sections may remain sufilciently close togetherto have a guidingV action on the falling charge, should it be inclinedfrom vthe vertical or tilted before it 'passes below the plane of thelower'ends of the cup sections.

By releasing the charge in the manner described, and giving it rapositive axial downward movement, the chilling contact of the cup wallswith the glass will be discontinued over practically the entire surfaceof the glass charge at the Sametime, and the charge thus is in the bestcondition so far as skin formation is concerned for fabrication into anarticle of glassware in a .50 mold of an associate glassware formingmachine. It has been found in actual practice that a charge gathered anddelivered by the gathering mechanism of the present invention can bemanufactured into a commercially satisfactory arti- 55 cle of glassware,such as a bottle, without allowing an unusually long time forrehtingfsuch as heretofore has been believed necessary when the chargehas been obtained by gathering glass in a suction cup or receptacle, asdistinguished 60 from a charge obtained from a suspended charge outletfeeder.

Furthermore, the provision of the cavity in the top of the chargeprovides an expansion space for preliminary internal expansion of the 65charge in the first or shaping mold of an associate glassware shapingmachine, and thus permits the feeding to such a mold of a chargesufficiently long to extend substantially or nearly the full length ofthe mold cavity. Also, the 70 charge so formed' has a substantiallyuniform chilled skin" or ename at its top and side surfaces. Such acharge, therefore, is adapted to be formed into a bottlenor similararticle of glassware, having walls free from the usual 75 counterblow"or 5settle blow" waves.

If desired, provision may be made in any suitable known way for applyingpositive or superatmospheric pressure fluid through the suction passagesof the suction 'cup at or immediately before the instant of opening the`cup to aid in 5 effecting quick and clean separation ofv the glass ofthe charge from v.the inner surfaces of the cup sections. f

The invention is not restricted to the particular structure and mode ofoperation herein de- 10` scribed, but extends to all such structuralmodiflcations and adaptations and operations as fairly fall within thescope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In combination, an open bottom receptacle 15 comprising a pluralityof cooperative sections adapted when closed to gather glass from thesurface of a supply body when suction Ahasbeen produced in saidreceptacle while itis in glass gathering relation with said supply body,and 20 means for'mounting said sections for opening and closingmovements, said sections and the means for mounting them being soconstructed and arranged that the opening of the sections will releasethe gathered glass therein and cause a downward movement `of a portionofat least one .of said sections in contact with the upper surface ofthe gathered glass so as to impart a downward aidalmovement thereto. 30

2. In combination, an open bottomed receptacle comprisinga plurality ofcooperative sections adapted when closed to gather glass from thesurface of a supply body when suction has been produced in saidreceptacle while it is in -35 glass gathering relation with said supplybody, means for mounting said sections for opening and closinglmovements'said sections and the means for mounting them being soconstructed and arranged that the opening of the sections will releasethe gathered glass therein and cause 40 a downward movement of the upperportions of said sections in contact with the upper surface of thegathered glass so as to impart a ldownward axial movement thereto, andmeans for steadyingfthe gathered glass in the receptacle tov 45 maintainsuch glass vertical as the sections are opened.

3. In combination, an open bottomed receptacle comprising a plurality ofcooperative sections adapted when closed to gather glass from thesurface of a supply body when suction has been produced in saidreceptacle while itis in 4glass gathering relation with said supplybody,

means for mounting said sections for opening and closing movements, saidsections and the .means for mounting them being so constructed andarranged that the opening of the sections will release the gatheredglass therein and impart a downward axial movementithereto, and a memberdepending into the cavity of the closed receptacle centrally thereof forforming a central cavity in the upper end portion of the gathered glasscharge and forrsteadying the glass charge as the sections of thereceptacle are opened.

4. Glass feeding mechanism comprising a suction head, an open-bottom cupcomprising a pair of cooperative partible longitudinal sections formedto provide, when closed, a central opening at the top of the cavity ofthe cup, means for pivotally supporting said cup sections so that saidsections, when closed will belocatedin suby stantially air tight contactwith said suction head at all points immediately surrounding said,central opening, said cup sections and said means 75,

for pivotally-supporting them being so constructed and arranged as tocause the cup sections to apply a positive downward impulse to a chargeof glass in the cup as the sections are swung from closed positionstoward their open positions, a pin depending through said centralopening in spaced relation with thev walls thereof and into the cavityof said cup, and a shearing mechanismcomprising a pair of cooperativeblades operable to shear glass in the cup cavity from an underneathsupply at a predetermined variable distance below the lower end of saidcavity.

5. Glass feeding mechanism comprising an open bottomed suction glassgathering receptacle, means for supporting said receptacle for movementto' and from a glass gathering position at the surface of a supply poolof glass, and a severing mechanism mounted on said supporting means formovement with said cup and for blades and said piston for swinging saidblades from raised out-of-the-way positions.

above the level of the cup to positions to eect shearing of glass in thecup from the underneath supply pool at a predetermined variable distancebelow the lower end of the cup.

6. Glass feeding mechanism comprising a suction head, an open bottomedcup comprising a pair of partible cooperative longitudinal sectionshaving inwardly lextending .top portions adapted to define a centralopening at the top of the cavity of the Vcup when the sections areclosed, substantially vertical levers having their lower end portionsconnected with and supporting said cup sections and having theirintermediate portions 40 pivotally connected with said suction head forswinging movements about horizontal axes re'- spectively located atopposite sides of said suction head and of the vertical plane at whichthe partible longitudinal sections meet when the sections are closed,yieldable means urging the upper ends of said levers apart to maintainsaid cup sections closed beneath and in Working relationship with saidsuction head, means for moving said suction head and said cup sectionsas a unit between a glass gathering position and a glass feedingposition, and cam means operable when said suction head and -closed cupsections have been rnoved from said glass gathering position to saidglass feeding position=for actuating said levers to swing saidrcupsections apart with movements having a downward component to release thegathered glass from the cavity of the cup and to impart a downwardmovement thereto.

7. Glass feeding mechanism comprising a suction head, an open bottomedcup comprising a pair of partible cooperative longitudinal sectionshaving inwardly extending top portions adapted to define a centralopening at the top of the cavity of the cup when the sections areclosed, substantially vertical levers having their lower end portionsconnected with and supporting said cup sections and having theirintermediate portions pivotally connected with said suction head for,A

swinging movements about horizontal axes Vrespectively located atopposite sides of said suction head and of the vertical plane at whichthe partible longitudinal sections meet when the sections are closed,yieldable means urging the 75.upper ends of said levers apart tomaintain said vertical adjustment relative to said cup, saidG cupsections closed beneath and in working relationship with said suctionhead, means for moving said suction head and said cup sections as a unitbetween a glass gathering position and a glass feeding position, and cammeans operable when said suction head and closed cup sections have beenmoved from said glass gathering position to said glass feeding positionfor actuating said levers to swing said cup sections apart withmovements having a downward component to release the` gathered glassfrom the cavity of the cup and to impart a downward movement thereto,said cam means being of such character as to limit the opening movementsof the cup sections so that the opened sections will serve as guides forpreventing substantial lateral deflecting or tilting of the gatheredglass during the descent thereof between said sections 8.` Glass feedingmechanism comprising a suction head, a cup comprising a pair oflongitudinal f sections having inwardly extending top portions adaptedto dene a central opening at the top of the cavityof the cup when thesections are closed, means including separate horizontal pivot pinscarried by the head at places located laterally of and above theinwardlyextending top portions of the cup sections for pivotallysupporting said sections for movements to and from closed positionsbeneath the suction head and so that the inwardly extending yportions ofsaid sections move in directions having a downward component during theopening of said sections, and a pin depending from said suction headthrough said central opening in spaced relation with the walls thereofvand into the cavity of the cup when said sections are closed.

9. Glass feeding mechanism comprising a suction head, a cup comprising apair of longitudinal sections having inwardly extending top portionsadapted to dene a central opening at the' top of the cavity of the cupwhen the sections are closed, means including separate horizontal pivotpins carried by the head at places located laterally of and above theinwardly extending top portions of the cup sections for pivotallysupclosed positions beneath the suction head and so that the inwardlyextending portions of said sections move in directions having a downwardcomponent d'uring the opening of said sections, a pin depending fromsaid suction head through said central opening in spaced relation withthe walls thereof and into the cavity of the cup when said sections areclosed, and a shearing mechanism carried by said head and so constructedand arranged as to comprise blades yand detaching the glass charge fromthe inner surfaces of the receptacle and simultaneously imparting adownward impulse to such chargel by the contact of a solid member withan upper surface of the charge.

11. The method of feeding charges of molten glass which comprisesgathering glass by suction 45 porting said sections for movements to andfrom for the mold to be charged, severing the gathered glass from thesupply pool at a predetermined variable distance below the lower end ofthe receptacle, forming a central cavity in the upper end portion ofthe'gathered glass charge to accommodate a longitudinally displacedportion of the glass charge when such charge is subsequently expanded inthe mold, and releasing said charge from the gathering receptacle andsimultaneously applying a downward impulse thereto by the contact of asolid member with an upper surface of such charge so that the chargewill fall axially downward for delivery to said mold.

12. Glass feeding mechanism comprising a movable support, an openbottomed glass gathering suction cup carried by the support and ashearing mechanism also carried by 'said support and so constructed Vandarranged yas to comprise blades movable from opened positions atopposite sides of the cup toward each other beneath the bottom of thecup to effect avshearing operation and thence past each other topositions spaced suiiiciently` far apart to permit a .charge of glassthat has been gathered in the cup to fall therefrom through rthe spacebetween said blades.

ROBERT W. CANFIELD.

